Snapchat has stepped up its game with Chat 2.0

Say what you want, how you want. That’s how Snapchat’s CEO Evan Spiegel describes Chat 2.0, a massive set of new features which just launched a few days ago. It lets private conversations morph between mediums depending on what users want to show or tell, and whether they can speak up or must stay silent. As WhatsApp focuses on simplicity and Facebook Messenger chases commerce, Snapchat is positioning itself as the most vivid, human way to chat.

Snapchat stories now auto-advance, so when you get to the end of watching a friend’s story or swipe left, the next story in your list starts playing for easy lean-back watching that should boost view counts and encourage posting.

Over 200 stickersare now available in private chat, and ones related to text you’ve typed like “love you” or “hungry” are instantly surfaced when you press the stickers’ button.

Video Notesin chat let you record and send a quick 10-second max thumbnail-sized GIF-like loop so you can react with your face, and they play audio too if the recipient taps.

Video and Audio Callscan now be initiated even if the recipient isn’t already chatting with you, turning Snapchat into more of a phone.

In chat, you will now be able to send multiple photos and also customize them with Snapchat’s new filter tools.

Chat 2.0 lets both conversation partners toggle on the fly betweenvideo and audio calls, video and audio notes, stickers, and text as their environment or intentions change, so users can start or stop transmitting and just listen or watch.

Snapchat will only temporarily save snaps submitted to live stories as part of their new ‘Privacy Policy’ and will delete everything else.

With all these features, there’s no reason to not be glued to Snapchat!